Abstract

The sole purpose of this comment is to draw attention to the significance of enantiomorphism in the interpretation of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies of drugs that are present in dosage forms as racemates. The proportion of the enantiomers formed from a racemate can vary in different animal species, and both the pharmacokinetic behaviour and pharmacodynamic activity can differ between the enantiomers. As a consequence, the pharmacological effects produced by a racemic drug represent the combined effects of the enantiomers formed in the particular species of animal. Enantiomorphism has a major influence on the prediction of dosage regimens for different animal species.